A man charged with domestic battery allegedly swung at his live-in girlfriend in front of police, just several moments after he reportedly used a knife to threaten the woman’s life.

Jeffrey C. Burton, 46, of 7233 Randolph St., is also facing two assault charges in connection with the Feb. 16 incident. According to a police report, Forest Park police received a phone call from a female friend of the victim shortly before 7 p.m. According to the caller, whose identity was not released by authorities, the alleged victim called her and in a whispered voice asked that she contact the police.

Officers found the couple seated in a car located in the alley west of 7331 Randolph St. As police approached the car, Burton began yelling obscenities and refused to get out of the car. At one point, officers attempted to open a car door, which Burton slammed shut from the inside. In their report, officers noted a cut along the woman’s mouth.

The alleged victim, seated in the driver’s seat, started to get out of the car once police asked her to.

“As (the alleged victim) began exiting the car, I observed Burton clench his right hand and swing it in her direction, at which time I deployed the Taser X26, making contact with Burton’s right leg with the probes,” one responding officer said in their report.

Additional officers arrived at the scene and though the suspect continued to yell threats, he was taken into custody without further incident, according to police.

While being interviewed at the police station, the alleged victim said she and Burton live together and have been dating for approximately four years. An argument turned physical when Burton struck her in the mouth with his hand, then grabbed a knife from the kitchen and said, “I’ll kill you, don’t make me kill you,” according to a police report.

Bumbling burglar pinched

A would be burglar was caught trying to break into a car parked on Desplaines Avenue after allegedly fumbling with the vehicle’s locks in front of a civilian and police, according to a department report.

At about 11 a.m. on Feb. 21, a man was returning to his 1005 Desplaines Ave. home when he saw 29-year-old James Thomas “messing with” a 2000 Ford Focus. According to police, the witness reported watching Thomas reaching underneath the car and trying to manipulate the door handle.

Five minutes later the witness exited his apartment and Thomas continued to tamper with the car. He called police and an officer dressed in street clothes driving an unmarked car responded.

“Sgt. [Mike] Keating … observed Thomas by the above listed auto for over five minutes from a short distance,” according to a police report. During this time, the officer watched as the suspect struggled to trip the lock and searched underneath the car for a hidden key.

Thomas, a Decatur, Ill., resident, was charged with attempted burglary and possession of burglary tools.

Apologetic masturbator

Upon being spotted masturbating on the sidewalk, 42-year-old Kevin Mabry said he was simply overcome with the urge and couldn’t stop himself.

Just before midnight on Feb. 22, an officer patrolling the area of 1 S. Harlem Ave. reported seeing Mabry standing on the sidewalk with his penis exposed. Mabry, “who is known to the FPPD, had been drinking and apologized for his behavior,” according to an incident report.

The suspect was arrested without incident and charged with public indecency.

Drugs, gear nabbed by patrol

Two men were arrested at a Harlem Avenue gas station on felony drug charges after police allegedly discovered a quantity of heroin and a host of drug paraphernalia.

Edward Merlin, 21, and Vitaly Vayberg, 22, were caught shortly before 5 p.m. on Feb. 17 after authorities became suspicious of their vehicle having been parking near an exterior bathroom door for some 15 minutes. According to a department report, 601 Harlem Ave. is known as heavily trafficked area among drug users.

No address for either suspect was listed in an incident report on the arrests.

After confronting the individuals, officers found syringes in Vayberg’s pocket, along with 12 clear capsules allegedly containing heroin. A search of the vehicle’s trunk uncovered a duffel bag that was allegedly filled with miniature candles, cotton wool, syringes and additional quantities of heroin, all of which are used to ingest the illegal substance.

These items were taken from the records of the Forest Park Police Department between Feb. 16, 2007 and Feb. 23, 2007, and represent only a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in this report has only been charged with a crime. The cases have not been adjudicated.

Compiled by Josh Adams